Kent Downs

Kent Downs
Ranscombe Farm, Medway. In June, these 'unimproved' meadows are covered with chalk grassland flowers.
Location of the Kent Downs AONB in the UK
LocationKent, England

The Kent Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in Kent, England.[1] They are the eastern half of the North Downs and stretch from the London/Surrey borders to the White Cliffs of Dover, including a small section of the London Borough of Bromley. The AONB also includes the Greensand Ridge, a prominent sandstone escarpment which lies south of the chalk escarpment of the North Downs.

It was first designated as an AONB in July 1968 and covers 878 square km (326 square miles).[2] The AONB's highest point is Toy's Hill, at 250m above sea level, and its boundaries include three main rivers: the Darent, Medway and Stour.[2]

To the west, Surrey Hills AONB adjoins the Kent Downs AONB, and includes a continuation of the North Downs chalk ridge which runs through the Kent Downs, stretching from Farnham to the English Channel and reappearing within the Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et Marais d’Opale in France.[2] High Weald AONB lies to the south east, separated by a distance of just over 2km at Bough Beech Reservoir.

As part of the management of the AONB, Village Design Statements have been adopted by 14 per cent of villages within its boundaries, going on to form part of Supplementary Planning Guidance, recognising the character of the historic landscape and distinctiveness of settlements.[3][4][2]

  1. ^ The Kent Downs website
  2. ^ a b c d "Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan 2021-2026" (PDF).
  3. ^ Forsyth, Michael (4 September 2013). Understanding Historic Building Conservation. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-80684-5.
  4. ^ Gallent, Nick; Juntti, Meri; Kidd, Sue; Shaw, Dave (14 January 2008). Introduction to Rural Planning. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-08634-4.